Suspended jail
sentence for
fly-tipping man

A FLY-TIPPER who cost Rother taxpayers hundreds of pounds has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Luke Lelliot, of Chilean Green, Ninfield, was charged with three counts of fly-tipping and sentenced on April 1 after pleading guilty to the offences.

The 30-year-old was caught after an investigation into piles of rubbish dumped in Poppinghole Lane, Robertsbridge, and at Upper Wilting Farm in St Leonards-On-Sea in April 2014.

Investigating officers from Rother District Council were able to find evidence within the fly-tipped rubbish that led to the arrest of Lelliot.

Appearing at Hastings Magistrates Court, he was given a 20-week custodial sentence suspended for a year and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

Fines imposed by the court included £1,186.66 costs awarded to the council and a victim surcharge of £80.

“We are delighted with the sentence handed down,” said Alex Balshaw, planning and environmental enforcement officer for the district council. “There is never an excuse for fly-tipping and we will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

“Fly-tipping is not only a blight on the local environment; it also puts additional pressure on the council’s already stretched resources. These three incidents alone cost the taxpayer hundreds of pounds to clean up, which Lelliot will now have to pay.”